Emotional vigil held for Cornish aid worker killed in Gaza
James "Jim" Henderson was one of seven aid workers killed in an Israeli air strike
Last updated 4th Apr 2024
A vigil has been held for an aid worker from Falmouth who was one of seven people killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.
33-year-old James "Jim" Henderson died alongside James Kirby, 47, from Bristol, and John Chapman, 57, from Dorset, when their charity convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse on Monday.
They were working for World Central Kitchen's (WCK) security team.
The team's leader, Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, 43, an Australian national, also died, along with American-Canadian dual citizen Jacob Flickinger, 33, Polish national Damian Sobol, 35, and Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, 25.
A friend of James Henderson spoke at last night's vigil in Falmouth: "Jimmy wasn't a political man, but he was just a good man. He was doing what he thought was right and he was just trying to help."
He added: "We've gone through the last 24-hours crying and talking about stories about him and it's made me realise what an influential person he was to our group - the strength and the honour that he gave us.
"If you were one of his people, he would die for you and he's such a beautiful, beautiful part of all of our lives."
WCK's chief executive Erin Gore described the aid workers killed in Gaza as "the heroes of World Central Kitchen":
"Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories. And we have countless memories of them giving their best selves to the world. We are reeling from our loss. The world's loss."